My great aunt was a US army nurse and was at Normandy and the Bulge. She's the only female WWII i've ever met. At the end of the war she was assigned to Nuremberg to treat and gaurd the wives and mistresses of the accused war criminals. She was a super cool lady. She passed away last year, 2020. Sadly, due to COVID, there was no funeral. Intetestingly, I have an aunt that was a US army nurse in Vietnam. And she's the only female Vietnam vet I've ever met.
I once met a woman in a parking lot that had a POW license plate. When she was about 12yo she was a POW of the Japanese in the Philippines. She was a US citizen.
One of my aunts served as an army nurse and did two tours of duty in the Vietnam war. We should never forget that every one of these Angels of mercy were all 100% volunteers. Their service should never be forgotten. God bless them all. No matter the brach or war they deserve our respect gratitude.
I live in a mountainous village in eastern Albania and I can tell you that those women were tough af to survive for that long behind enemy lines,especially during winter. May all of them rest in peace!
They have movies of german/italian camp escapees stealing a fuckin train and russian gulag escapees walking across like mongolia when it had just fallen to communism when they thought they would be safe there and having to cross across all of it and a couple more country’s to even get to actual freedom one guy gave up then and there and walked right back into siberia another one died during the trip and the rest made it freedom eventually
I find it amazing that Dr. Felton has several photos of Reba Whittle yet a major online encyclopaedia doesn’t have any photo of her. This shows the deep extent of Dr. Felton’s researches to bring us the comprehensive story of history so we may remember it correctly.
Another winner of an episode, Dr. Felton. Now you have to do a whole episode dedicated to those 13 nurses who spent two months hiking out of Albania. That sounds incredible.
As a helicopter combat aircrew veteran of Iraq, I have a tremendous amount of respect for these flying nurses. It’s a shame that we did not properly recognize Lt. Whittle as a POW before her death.
@@johnbrattan9341 Of course they didn't. It's only when it's women (and now POC) that it seems to matter. This isn't a first either.. remember Jessica Lynch and Lori Piestewa? How the former was made into this female super Rambo-esque figure, gunning down and holding the Iraquis at bay even while wounded? Or when the Iranians took a bunch of American sailors? Almost no one can name any of them, but some can name the one woman among them.. Then there's articles about "the first africanamerican/poc woman POW" on the military times website...
@@johnbrattan9341, yes, but the award wasn't created until 1985. It was proposed numerous times between 1944 and 1985, but it was opposed by the military, who argued that the purpose of awards should be to act as an incentive. When it was finally created, it was awarded retroactively to more than 142,000 former POWs from WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and Vietnam.
Thank you Mark Felton for this story. I never knew that there was one female POW during WW2. I also want to note how the Germans treated this lady. Nothing bad happened to her other than being shot down. She was actually protected by the Germans being employed as a nurse in the camp hospitals.
My grandmother was a Registered Nurse durring WWII and I remember her saying something about this woman many years ago.. As she would have said, "that lady was one tough bird!" It's truly sad she was not recognized as a POW and awarded that medal durring her lifetime! A remarkable woman in difficult times! We ALL need to remember it was not just men that played a critical part to win WWII. Thank you for this episode!
@@TheRealRusDaddy As a disabled US Army Veteran that also worked at a VA Clinic, becomming a POW is more than just being detained!! Just ask ANY you happen to meet and I'm sure they will tell you it's no picknic!!
You mean this country baits it's population into military service with promises of being treated well, only to dump them when they get back from fighting their wars?
My great aunt was a nurse with the 29th Field Hospital in Europe during the war with the 7th Army. I luckily have dozens of photos of her and the things she saw
My Mother landed with the first wave at Anzio. Their tent hospital facilities were well marked with red crosses. The Italians and Germans respected the red crosses for the most part. They were in far more danger from short rounds and spent AA shells landing among them. A fair number were killed by "friendly fire.
What do you mean by "hit by spent AA shells"? The brass shells stay inside the cannons chamber when fired. Do you mean AA shrapnel? Thats also mostly harmless when it reaches the ground because its kinetic energy is spent.
@@matthiwi6901What stays behind is often called a shell casing. Shell is the generic term. Like the word bullet. Could mean the bullet itself or the entire cartridge.
@@barryervin8536 well, they are, because theyre tiny. Especially harmless to people wearing helmets. Just like throwing a coin from a skyscraper is harmless. The shrapnel may be fast up there at 10.000 feet but when it comes down it has reached an equilibrium with the air friction and is thus quite slow.
I teach US history at a community college. Your videos have added much detail to many lectures. Students love learning about things never presented before. Thanks so much.
1Lt Whittle, I am also a female soldier. You died as i joined The Army. God bless you. I would have loved to sit down and had a conversation with you. Thankyou for your honor and service to our country. The stories you must have had. Thsnks again.
Bless you. If I'd had to rely on school history textbooks I'd have been as bored as so many I've encountered. Dr. Felton brings it to life. Fortunately my grandfather gave me years of history as it affect ed him. His detailed stories about WWI helped me understand much better the actions in the modern Yugoslav Wars.
As an ex-Air Force Flight Nurse 1970-71, I had the honor of caring for our VietNam wounded on their last leg home (Elmendorf AFB, Alaska to Dover AFB). Thank you for this stimulating, historical story of my predicesor s of WW2. 2nd Lt. Whittle deserved more than a purple heart, as did the other FN Officers. Glad to hear the Germans treated her decently. My idols all.
>Spot wounded nurse >Render First Aid before taking her into custody >Make special accommodations for her Sounds very different from the Wehrmacht my history textbooks described...
Thank you. My best friends mother served as a nurse in WWII, but in the East and the war with Japan. Her family has really lovely photographs of her playing baseball with all the men on a remote island. A lot of men did send up with a crush on her, but she only told one "You need to meet my sister!" Sure enough he married her sister! Later on she married a fellow nurse, a male, and my friend is proud that both her parents are WWII veterans. In harms way indeed, and the island hoping battles were as tough on nurses as on anyone else!
This is why I watch your videos. True, unbiased WW2 history. You don't sugarcoat anything or blow things out of proportion. You simply tell it the way it actually happened.
This brings back memories. A dear family friend and co-worker of my mom was a battlefield nurse which followed Patton's 3rd Army in the European theater. In 1944 (1945?) her picture was actually on the cover of Life Magazine under the title "Shock Nurse". Some 35 years later, my mom was able to find/purchase a copy of that issue, had each page protected in plastic and gave it to her as a keepsake. She was quite a lady who always made us feel welcome when we would go to her place to play cards, board-games or just to talk. My mom and my younger brother were with her when she passed away.
Prior to mid-Dec 1944, Patton's 3rd was stationed in and around Strasbourg, France. On 12/16/44 the "bulge" commenced in eastern Belgium. A large portion of Patton's 3rd was called up north shortly thereafter. You should with just a name of your mother's co-worker a history.
I don’t know how you continue to find these fascinating, usually unheard of, WW2 Stories but please don’t stop. You’re a treasure here on TH-cam. Thanks Mark!
Thanks for this story, Mark! We just said farewell to my uncle on September 4 who flew a B-24 Liberator for the top-secret 801st/492nd Bombardment Group, “ Carpetbaggers”, so this story was very close to home! He was 97 years old when he passed away on August 3. Thank you for your superb historical research!
"Courageous 13." Because two months of playing hide-and-seek with determined foes through the Balkans is not for the faint of heart. Ask Captain O'Grady; it was tough, and he only had to evade for a week.
You wouldn't like this movie after it went trough all the changes they would do give it more drama and suspense: - 13 Nurses ? That's to much, the audience could hardly tell them apart - 5 are enough - They where all from the US? Having some other nationalities will broaden the audience - We need some more romance one of them could fall in love with the pilot. - More drama two nurses a black haired and a blond will fall in love with the pilot - There will be some fire fights with at least 50 SS soldiers following them. - The black haired nurse was a spy, worked together with the Nazis but scarifies their live to save them in the end.
I am a nurse and stand on the shoulders of all nightingales that came before me. 👏👏👏. When Bataan and Corregidor fell, 11 navy nurses, 66 army nurses, and 1 nurse-anesthetist were captured and imprisoned in and around Manila. They continued to serve as a nursing unit while prisoners of war. After years of hardship and abuse by the Japanese, they were finally liberated in February 1945.
@David Erickson wrong, I was a nurse and took care of Mary Obrest, we talked a lot about it. I thought the same but the females were treated well, I asked about the march and she said the nurses rode in trucks.
I was drafted in 1965, and was trained at Fort Sam Huston,Texas FOR SIX MONTHS. Great CITY FOR FUN, and lots of Vietnam Widows, unfortunately. Still remember the bar, "The Town Pump" Very old bar, with a great band, and lots of Mexican girls...
@@joemurphy9549 thank you too for remembering her name. She was indeed a remarkable woman who exemplified courage and humanity at its finest, as did thousands in every war.
As an American I want to thank you Mark for informing me about this invaluable history. This story, the Cape San Juan, and countless others would've been lost to me without your diligent research. Never for a second believe that it's not appreciated.
I had 6 aunts who were all in nursing and that tradition continues with many of my cousins, but I've long been astounded by the level of dedication most nurses will display. Once again, hearing about the things I've never heard about. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for covering this story. These brave women deserve our respect and honor. They were part of the greatest generation and were indispensable to the war effort. Bless them all.
My mother was a US Army Air Corp nurse in WW2. She served at Westover and Mitchell Fields. At Michell, late in the war, She served with some recently repatriated Army nurses who had been captured at Bataan early in the war.
My great aunt was a civilian captured by the Japanese in China. She was a visiting professor of nutrition at a university there, so while in the internment camps (they were moved around periodically), she had the job of keeping inmates fed with very little. She was eventually released prior to the end of the war in a deal facilitated (if memory serves) by the Swedish government.
@@DTavona She probably would not have made it out alive if she had been imprisoned by the Soviets. There is a lot of evidence missing to suggest the Japanese were "harsh with women prisoners", especially since there were so few of them to begin with. It is true that the Japanese were harsh with American POWs because their cities, families, communities, etc were constantly being bombed by us, it did not really surprise me when I heard how our comrades were treated. Thats war. It's not as if we treated Japanese POWs any better, plenty instances of us killing unarmed Japanese and German POWs.
Your aunt was certainly necessary as we were constantly sinking any supplies (including food for prisoners) across the empire. Even the Japanese soldiers themselves were underfed in occupied territories.
@@DTavona At least according to some of the women themselves. Other women tell a different story, of essentially making the trade of becoming "concubines"/prostitutes in exchange for more food, tea, soap and other things. Not so much different from American GIs taking advantage of young German (and other) women and making them sleep with them so they could bring their kid a bit of shitty American chocolate, or have a bar of soap to wash with + a bit more to eat. Except that our women were more honest about it.
Never ceases to amaze me how vapid Hollywood movies are considering the trove of stories available. Thank you Professor Felton for shining a light on such heroism.
One significant lady killed in her nursing duties would be Renee Lemaire, killed at Bastogne Christmas Eve 1944, Augusta Chiwy who survived to 2015 from the same incident
@@catherinelw9365 Brave as any of the Screaming Eagles, and should always be remembered for just been a volunteer, after loosing her poor Jewish Fiancee several years before and wanted to do her best
I personally want to thank this lady for her service for her bravery for her sacrifice she is truly one of a kind and should be recognized as one of the best in her time. People need to realize that women were just as important in the battles as anyone else this lady deserves to be remembered forever....
There are few TH-cam channels on history that provide me with content that I was previously unaware of at least some aspect of. Mark does this on a regular basis and this great story is just one example of it. I can't say enough how much I appreciate that.
Thank you for recognizing the contributions of women in WWII. My mother worked at the military base that my Stepfather was stationed at during WWII - she and many thousands of other women contributed to the Allied War Effort in whatever way that they could and need to be recognized for their contributions. I am very proud of my Mother!
Another outstanding story. This channel is absolutely wonderful. Phenomenal research and thoroughness. This channel and “The History Guy” channel are my go-to sources for history on TH-cam. Well done Mark.
History Guy did a terrible Mary Seacole video. A woman who people want desperately to be categorized as a nurse yet there being a lack of evidence of her actually giving people real medical care. Admirable as it is to give people water when they are wounded it still isn't qualifying as nursing especially when you run a business whose patronage is mainly British Officers.
Hello Mike. I know what you mean regarding Mark and THG. But the channels are strangely different too. Not a bad thing though. I always watch both. Regards.
Thank you Reba - for your service, your sacrifices and your courage under fire - and for the kindness and comfort that you brought to all under your care.
This is a fantastic episode. Thank you for bring this story of a true American hero to a large audience. This episode should be mandatory viewing in American high school history classes.
"A female prisoner? Our bureaucratic system doesnt account for that so please just take her back." It was pretty much what i've expected reading the title - then again im used to german bureaucracy. :)
What do you think the Allies would have done if they had captured a single female enemy soldier? Right. She'll need her own sleeping quarters. Check. Her own bathing room. Check. Her own recreation area - she would be free to mix with the other POWs under strict supervision (no hanky panky, eh) but of course boys play rough so she would need a seperate room. Filled with books, newspapers and perhaps she would do some embroidery... She would need her own menu/diet. Can't have her eat the same swill we feed to regular POWs. What if she became ill! Speaking of that, ahem. A gynecologist. And of course the ladies of the local tea club in the village nearby would love to meet her and exchange wartales and recipees. Next... *Bloody Hell* we can't do that! We haven't got the resources. There's a war going on you know... Just put her on the next plane to Lissabon with some travel money, a new set of clothes, a new passport, and...
@@scutumfidelis1436 I bet quite a few male POWs were raped. You don't have to be a woman to be raped. Just like that black man that was raped by New York cops inside a police station in 1997, only they used a broomstick. The main NYC cop got 30 years in prison. In 2008, a similar incident occurred in a subway in New York. Three NYC cops face 25, 4 and 4 years in prison. They were all acquitted.
Well wrong. German bureaucracy had a lot of experience with female POWs. Mostly Soviet. They were often threated even worse then male counterparts. Not only beaten, worked and starved to death, they were often raped or used for medical experiments. In this instance, it was more case of fear and will to survive that motivated German bureaucracy. War was undoubtedly coming to an end, and suddenly good graces of Americans were the best chance for survival and not paying for the war crimes. Therefore gestures like this were highly calculated.
Back in 1981 I was a rural Mississippi Pastor in Leakesville. I visited the home of one of the elderly women of the Church and she told me her WWII experiences. She was an RN at Bastogne when the Germans attempted to overrun the city. When informed of the possibility of being captured by the German forces General McAuliffe spoke to this RN and said, "Don't let them take you alive." He then handed her his sidearm. She still had it. She showed it to me. I remember her saying with great determination in her voice, "They weren't going to take me alive!"
It was witnessing the horrors of WW2 first-hand that turned my mother from a devout Christian to a life-long militant atheist, taking every opportunity to rail against religion and joining the British Secular Society. She subsequently raised her children to be militant atheists too.
@@AtheistOrphan War is a strange thing. Beliefs are shattered and unbelief as well. I frequently encountered war veterans who came to believe as well as to unbelief via combat trauma as a Veterans Hospital Chaplain. (22 years) Trauma challenges our faith presuppositions.
I have read of the Japanese internee US nurses in a book called Band of Sisters I believe it was called. A phenomenal story of courage perseverance and dedication to duty. Just an awesome story. Odd Reba's story has never been a book . An Incredible larger than life adventure. (Hint Hint Dr. Felton)
I too read that book if it is the same book it is called We Band of Angels. There is another wonderful book called If I Perish it is about nurses serving in Europe both books are first rate
My mother was close to being a POW in Italy in 1944. She was a sergeant working as a shorthand typist for General Freyberg of the New Zealand Army corps in Italy. She told me of an episode on a rare day off when she was invited by a NZ tank crew (no doubt anxious for some female company!) to try driving a tank, highly unofficial of course and away from Camp headquarters. Unfortunately they unexpectedly ran into a small German reconnaissance patrol behind the NZ lines. Neither side wanted to fight so both the Germans and the Kiwis turned tail and fled the scene. It was never reported as I guess the tank crew would have been in big trouble for unauthorised antics! Mark Felton's excellent story about Reba Whittle makes me wonder what would have happened to my mother if she had been captured.
You are the first person I've ever experienced giving credit where credit is due to women soldiers. Thank you for this acknowledgement. (I entered the Navy at Alameda and my husband was attached to MAG 24 at Alameda.) Thanks again for sharing.
The woman pictured on the title was my stepmother, Jeri Lofland. She wasn't a nurse, nor in the army, but was a model who posed for a nursing recruitment poster.
I just read the story of that massacre. What an incredible woman. But what an incredible shame that no one was ever held responsible or even shot for the crimes committed there.
She survived and married a moose who later teemed up with a flying squirrel named Rocky the moose due to some technical glitches in the paperwork took her last name of Bullwinkle.
@@Briselance The Bangka Island Massacre was February 16th 1942 during World War II and it happened on Radji beach which is near Indonesia. 22 nurses,60 Australian and British soldiers were massacred. Vivian Bullwinkel an American and a Royal Navy sailor were the only survivors.. A British soldier Patrick Kingsley had survived and encountered by Bullwinkel several days after the massacre but by the time she surrendered Private Kingsley did not survive by the time they arrived at the P.O.W. Camp.
As a Registered Nurse myself I can tell you I’d be proud to have done that job. When I served in the USMC we didn’t have a medical career path unfortunately. Oh and those vintage nurses were cute too. They don’t make them like they used to. 😆 great video.
As a historian, I am quite impressed with the content I find on your channel. This topic was especially interesting, considering I had never heard of Lt. Whittle prior to your presentation. Please keep providing this outstanding content - I'm still not yet too old to learn! Thanks!
Great story Mark. My father was the Battalion aid surgeon who landed 2nd wave at Omaha Beach, and won a Silver star. He later was one of the surgeons who was asked to treat General Patton after his automobile accident.
Such an interesting story! The attitude of the Germans wanting to repatriate her, and the Americans failing to recognize her POW veteran status until 2 years after her death, both give me a chuckle. Large military bureaucracies just don’t know how to deal with atypical administrative situations. I retired from the USN in 2006, and I can attest that military bureaucracies are even worse today: Completely inflexible and rigid adherence to the “narrative”; common sense be damned! Thanks again, Mr Felton!
I want to add that there was indeed a significant number of female allied prisoners in german POW-camps. For example after fall of 1944 there was quite a number of Polish women (officers and lower ranks) from the Polish Home Army who were captured after the defeat at Warsaw. Some of the Polish women ended in concentration camps, some may be transfered to the status as civilian deportees if they agreed to be so (which ment more liberties than a POW and a small amout of money for the work they were forced to do), but many stayed in POW-camps and had to work in german factories until liberation.
@@MarkFeltonProductions But then, the Germans obviously knew what to do with women prisoners. She may have been unique on the Western front, but if someone had sent a message east, "We've got a woman here, what do we do?" they might have gotten an answer. Maybe the fact that she was a nurse and an officer made a difference?
@@rabbi120348 From what I understand from Marc Bartuschka the captured polish women were considered civilian prisoners or relegated to concentration camps. Specifically, they appear not to have been treated as prisoners of war. The soviets fielded many women soldiers in front line positions yet I have never read any specifics regarding special treatment or procedures. In any case, the Germans never treated them according to the rules proscribed by the Geneva convention like they did with the western allies.
@@rabbi120348 Most German troops knew by that time that the war was lost and the best they could hope for was becoming a prisoner themselves of the Western allies, with an eye to the future they would've been well advised to treat all allied prisoners well.
Thank you for sharing this amazing story of military nurses! I’m glad they finally recognized her as a military POW! She deserved all the recognition and more! In spite of being captured by the Germans I’m glad they treated her decently. What an amazing career! I wonder how many times she asked herself “what have I gotten myself into?”
Despite having routinely risked their lives, several nurses in the Bataan death march received little recognition. No female has ever been given the Medal of Honor. A female surgeon was awarded the Medal of Honor during the civil war; however, this was later rescinded. I'm a formed military critical care flight nurse and heard the stories from those that were there during WWII.
I think this is often because there isn't enough witnesses to corroborate the purported event or also them simply not being at the front and doing something truly exceptional. Unless you send me some good sources then I could be wrong.
You are wrong in one regard. Mary Edwards Walker was awarded a Medal of Honor in 1865. It was rescinded in 1917 (because it was a non-combat award) but returned in 1977.
Your information about Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is outdated. The revocation of her Medal of Honor was reversed by President Carter in 1977. That does not change the reality that the "non-combatant" status of women kept some of them from receiving the honors that their deeds deserved.
Remarkable story of women displaying incredible courage while under some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. We should all be thankful for their service and sacrifice. That said, with such stories rich with detail and drama, Hollywood should be knocking on your door. And if not, why not. Thanks Again, Dr. Felton. Your work consistently honors your subjects with honor and pride.
An inspiring story. As a general practitioner, I have always enjoyed working with nurses who have a great scope of practice, and I can relate to as a colleague. It is sad Reba wasn't given the recognition she deserved during her lifetime.
My father was on Omaha Beach and he was injured in Nancy, France about two months later by mortar shrapnel in the back and leg. My dad said that he was transported back to America in a C-47, which is the aircraft pictured in this video. He was in the lower bunk and there was a captured German in the upper one. Dad complained to the Flight Nurse that he had a bad backache, so the nurse turned him over. Upon turning him, she discovered that he had a piece of shrapnel in his back....
Will watch the video shortly, yet just wanted to point out that Mr. Felton is one of the few to acknowledge and highlight the actions of the women during war times. I'd personally like to see more content on women's roles during war time; not just military. E.g. The typists must of had a horrendous time writing such tragic news to families.
I've actually done a little research on those ladies, some of them actually COULDN'T be acknowledged for their service for decades because it was so secretive (they couldn't tell even their families for like 30-40 years). One group of Navy WAVES was actually breaking codes to help hunt down Nazi U-Boats. The Marines had them working as aircraft inspectors and mechanics, and the WASPs did transfer flights of planes from factories. The WACs were probably the most famous and handled virtually everything from airfield control towers to the paperwork. Their performance was so successful (and so popular) that other than the WASPs all of these forces were made permanent after the war. What's shocking is that they often received more recognition for their work in the 40s and 50s than they have in the 21st Century. Many GIs back then absolutely loved them.
@@thunderbird1921 Ah nice, thanks for sharing; the definition of 'unsung heroes'. My grandmother worked for Supermarine during WW2. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get first hand accounts of her experiences due to her failing cognitive capabilities, yet my mother told me about the stories she was told. It's incredible to think that such a vast amount of history is overlooked - not just from allied forces, but from the women around the world at that time. Working from the age of 15/16, going home to help look after the house, help tend to the land for crops, support the community...all whilst being bombed.
@@thewaywardgrape3838 You're welcome! As I said, the more I read about these ladies (and just how much the servicemen respected and loved them), I am SHOCKED they've been so forgotten in recent decades. They went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam as well (before the M/F military units were merged). By the 1950s, the WACs were so popular that they even got a salute in the popular "Francis the Army Mule" comedy film series. How they managed to go from being the sweethearts of America to totally forgotten in the last 25 years is beyond me. Thanks for sharing your grandmother's story by the way, very interesting!
I think there are more than a few that acknowledge women's role in WW2. Since they were not in front line combat, of course there is less interest. It's only natural. In the USSR, women were in combat areas and more celebrated
Having read The Real Tenko two weeks ago, a women being a German POW seems rather nice compared to the Japanese especially after what happened to the nurses at Hong Kong.
I would also recommend "Three Came Home" by Agnes Newton Keith. Gripping story (In 1950 also made into a good film starring Claudette Colbert if you ever get to catch it.)
My Grandmother was a Canary girl, she was in the factories making the bombs and ammunition. My Grandfather was a Bevin Boy in the coal mines, as he had a medical condition that didn't allow him to sign up to the RAF.
I'm from a family with many members...living and deceased who either were in our military and in combat, or or.... in our military today. And I have heard WWII stories, Korean War Stories and Vietnam War Stories...Iraq stories from friends...but never was I aware of these women....nurses who volunteered for the special training told in this video and went on such demanding dangerous and frightening missions. Thank you sir for posting this.
Once again, THANK YOU Mr. Felton for your objective, professional dedication to telling history as it was. When I recommend your channel to friends and family, I do it with ease of mind because of your hard work.🇺🇸🇬🇧
What a fantastic subject! So interesting to learn about Lieutenant Whittle and the incredible heroism and dedication of these women. Excellent work as always!
One of the most famous WASP pilots was someone very little people know about. Her name was Cornelia Clark Fort. She was the second founding member of the WASPs and was the first active duty female pilot killed after a midair collision with another plane. She was almost killed in another near midair collision on December 7, 1941 when she almost collided head on with a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Her plane was strafed by the Zero after she landed. She was the first American pilot to encounter the Japanese attack force. Her encounter was betrayed in the movie 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'.
Another fascinating video from my favourite history teacher. We tended to overlook the immense amount of effort and bravery of the women who willingly put themselves in the line of fire to save lives. It is through such presentations as this that we can appreciate their sacrifice.
Many stories of German civilians and military murdering Allied servicemen in cold blood. Even in the last days of the war. It all depended! Barbarism and totalitarianism go together!
The depth of knowledge and profound significance of these stories, simply shows the extent of responsibility Dr Felton shows towards relying much of history we take for granted. Thank you very much..
Dr Felton. My mother was a WWII Army nurse. I did not come along until 1948 and I wish she were alive today to watch this INCREDIBLE documentary. My Navy Chief Petty Officer hat off to you, sir!
Very interesting video - history is forgotten, but these stories bring it back into the light and we should all remember that it was a different time and Reba was not afraid to step to the front of the line ahead of male medical personnel - good on her to set the example. Thanks for sharing this story and not sure why there is 65 thumbs down at time of watching - probably from people who have never worn combat boots. Cheers
Interesting story, a shame so many service veterans have to struggle to get recognition and help for the suffering they have and still endure. God bless each and everyone of them and their families.
While serving in Viet Nam, I had the honor of seeing our nurses in action. They did a superb job in treating our wounded. Every time I thought of them, I wondered what would happen to them if they were captured. Thank God I never needed their help as I was a grunt. Thank again, ladies. P.S., the DONUT GIRLS also were great.
fascinating story Mark, thanks. Would you consider doing a report on Soviet women in German captivity given that they served as pilots and in other frontline roles.
Women in explicit combat roles were not received well by German forces. The distinction between female military nurses and support personnel vs female soldiers and combat pilots was significant it seems. It seems appropriate to suggest that ethnicity played a role too.
My grandmother was a driver in the Canadian forces motor pool in England. That's how she met my Grandfather who was a Defiant and Halifax gunner. I love to hear as many stories as possible about women serving in the armed forces. So little about them gets talked about so its fascinating stuff. This story for instance was great and I look forward to the video you mentioned.👍
There's an absolutely amazing testimony here on TH-cam of a U.S. Army World War II WAC who actually served as a driver while her husband was fighting in Italy (they married just before he shipped out). She talked about her incredible journey to find her husband in 1945 because he was going to be transferred to fight Japan (miraculously the war ended before he had to take part in the planned invasion). Unknown to her at the time, he had narrowly avoided death in the Italian Campaign when a German artillery shell slammed directly into his assigned foxhole, killing all the men in it, while he was temporarily away (I believe it was patrol duty IIRC). Her testimony has nearly half a million views if my memory is correct.
I’ve been blessed to have cared for a woman who was in the British Army during WWII. My friend’s aunt was an army nurse during WWII and she was a bad ass. I’m a nurse myself, so thank you for this lovely video.
Thank you. Our young women would do better to study these brave soldiers and what they did rather than the train wrecks they look up to today. These are women to be honoured and revered. Respect.
Loved history in high school, listening to you tell the rarely told stories make me feel like I am actually in the college lecture hall. Awesome content!!!!!
My Grandmother was a Captain in the US Army as a Nurse. She was in Bastogne during the Bulge, and on a snowy night ended up in German lines and was taken as a POW for 2 days. She woke up to a US MP pointing a rifle in her face and that was that. She has since passed, and she never told me much about her time in except that story, and briefly about liberating a concentration camp.
My father was a flight engineer on a C47 in North Africa, Italian campaign and Europe he also received the Air Medal for Matrious Service in Air Combat. He never spoke about his service except bits and pieces here and there. I wish he was alive today I would sit and have him tell me everything.
My great aunt was a US army nurse and was at Normandy and the Bulge. She's the only female WWII i've ever met. At the end of the war she was assigned to Nuremberg to treat and gaurd the wives and mistresses of the accused war criminals. She was a super cool lady. She passed away last year, 2020. Sadly, due to COVID, there was no funeral. Intetestingly, I have an aunt that was a US army nurse in Vietnam. And she's the only female Vietnam vet I've ever met.
May your Great Aunt rest in piece and I’m thankful that both your aunts served our country
Your family certainly has some heroic Americans in it.
My grandmother was a WWII Red Cross nurse 💙 she passed away in 2006. Wrecked my world. She was an amazing person.
Well she is greatly appreciated. It wasn’t for people like her we would enjoy the privileges we have today.
Wow
As a retired Army Nurse, I want to thank you for shedding light on the sacrifices made by so many of my sisters in arms. R.I.P. Lt. Whittle.
My BFF was in Vietnam and wounded. He said the nurses were heaven sent.
Thank you for your nursing service. From one nurse to another.
@@janiceduke1205 Thanks to you, too. I considered it an honor to serve our country, its warfighters and their families.
@@roberth5767 ⓦⓔⓛⓒⓞⓜⓔ
Thanks for your service. From one veteran to another.
She's not forgotten now after Mark Felton's army of subscribers watch this.
Then my aim is achieved.
@@MarkFeltonProductions our aim now (Soviet anthem plays in the background)
@@drewdurnilappreciationday1680 lol and a Napoleonic style battle portrait in the background
@@myratsalad I know it's just a joke
@@drewdurnilappreciationday1680 Drew looks better without a beard change my mind
I once met a woman in a parking lot that had a POW license plate. When she was about 12yo she was a POW of the Japanese in the Philippines. She was a US citizen.
Santo Tomas perhaps?
The Angel of Bataan, Army nurses were captured by Japanese soldiers
One of my aunts served as an army nurse and did two tours of duty in the Vietnam war. We should never forget that every one of these Angels of mercy were all 100% volunteers. Their service should never be forgotten. God bless them all. No matter the brach or war they deserve our respect gratitude.
Thank you! From another who did the same…
Wow. Wish I had the honor of meeting her
Definitely more than a salute to service 👏
Absolutely 💯
Salute, My friend Thomas Dyrek had relatives who were nurses in WWII
The women who walked through Albania sounds like it would make an excellent movie. Thanks for keeping the memories of the incredible women alive!
not before Mark Felton releases one of his videos on this subject for accuracy on the movie to avoid Hollywood from embellishing facts.
I live in a mountainous village in eastern Albania and I can tell you that those women were tough af to survive for that long behind enemy lines,especially during winter.
May all of them rest in peace!
They have movies of german/italian camp escapees stealing a fuckin train and russian gulag escapees walking across like mongolia when it had just fallen to communism when they thought they would be safe there and having to cross across all of it and a couple more country’s to even get to actual freedom one guy gave up then and there and walked right back into siberia another one died during the trip and the rest made it freedom eventually
@@HollywoodMarine0351 or screwing it up all together
I know the story. I know Albanian veterans , and I know how they were protected by the Albanian guerrillas.
It would make one hell of a movie 4 real.
I find it amazing that Dr. Felton has several photos of Reba Whittle yet a major online encyclopaedia doesn’t have any photo of her. This shows the deep extent of Dr. Felton’s researches to bring us the comprehensive story of history so we may remember it correctly.
I would not be surprised if Mark Felton had somehow been in contact with relatives of Reba Whittle to gain access to these photos.
it's surprising that the "major online encyclopedia" doesn’t have a photo of her since there are several online
@@benx6264 It depends if these photographs are free of copyright. The online encyclopedia only uses copyright free pictures, understandably.
@George Washington Troll!
Dammit George why you got to bring your political leanings into a Mark Felton video
Another winner of an episode, Dr. Felton. Now you have to do a whole episode dedicated to those 13 nurses who spent two months hiking out of Albania. That sounds incredible.
Yes please.
Great video sir…there are so many events that happen that we never hear about…thanks for shedding light on this one.
I agree! What a fantastic real-life story!
@Will Kelly ”Albania is flat”, yes of course when 70% of Albania is mountainous. Idiot.
@Will Kelly you seem to be lost sir, this is a channel for the appreciation of history.
As a helicopter combat aircrew veteran of Iraq, I have a tremendous amount of respect for these flying nurses. It’s a shame that we did not properly recognize Lt. Whittle as a POW before her death.
Did all US POW's in WWll get such honors?
@@johnbrattan9341 I don’t know for sure. They should have been.
@@johnbrattan9341 Of course they didn't. It's only when it's women (and now POC) that it seems to matter. This isn't a first either.. remember Jessica Lynch and Lori Piestewa? How the former was made into this female super Rambo-esque figure, gunning down and holding the Iraquis at bay even while wounded?
Or when the Iranians took a bunch of American sailors? Almost no one can name any of them, but some can name the one woman among them..
Then there's articles about "the first africanamerican/poc woman POW" on the military times website...
@@johnbrattan9341, yes, but the award wasn't created until 1985. It was proposed numerous times between 1944 and 1985, but it was opposed by the military, who argued that the purpose of awards should be to act as an incentive. When it was finally created, it was awarded retroactively to more than 142,000 former POWs from WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and Vietnam.
I was a 46 crew chief in Iraq. What did you fly on?
Thank you Mark Felton for this story. I never knew that there was one female POW during WW2. I also want to note how the Germans treated this lady. Nothing bad happened to her other than being shot down. She was actually protected by the Germans being employed as a nurse in the camp hospitals.
Can you imagine if the Russians had got their hands on her!
My grandmother was a Registered Nurse durring WWII and I remember her saying something about this woman many years ago.. As she would have said, "that lady was one tough bird!" It's truly sad she was not recognized as a POW and awarded that medal durring her lifetime! A remarkable woman in difficult times! We ALL need to remember it was not just men that played a critical part to win WWII. Thank you for this episode!
She was more detained then anything, it sounds like, the germans didnt even want to keep her as a pow
Bless your grandma.
@@TheRealRusDaddy As a disabled US Army Veteran that also worked at a VA Clinic, becomming a POW is more than just being detained!! Just ask ANY you happen to meet and I'm sure they will tell you it's no picknic!!
You mean this country baits it's population into military service with promises of being treated well, only to dump them when they get back from fighting their wars?
@_jeff _ your comment says more about you than the women you're criticizing.
My great aunt was a nurse with the 29th Field Hospital in Europe during the war with the 7th Army. I luckily have dozens of photos of her and the things she saw
American or British?
@@pspboy7 American
@@johncataloni8552 Thank you. And thanks to your great aunt for her service!
You should make the photos publicly available. My Mother was in North Africa and Italy during the War but her photos have all been lost.
I would love to see those pics..treasure them..they are priceless
My Mother landed with the first wave at Anzio. Their tent hospital facilities were well marked with red crosses. The Italians and Germans respected the red crosses for the most part. They were in far more danger from short rounds and spent AA shells landing among them. A fair number were killed by "friendly fire.
Well the Germans had the idea that the allies spending resources on the wounded was a good thing for the German war effort so why shell it?
What do you mean by "hit by spent AA shells"?
The brass shells stay inside the cannons chamber when fired.
Do you mean AA shrapnel?
Thats also mostly harmless when it reaches the ground because its kinetic energy is spent.
@@matthiwi6901 Jagged chunks of metal falling from the sky at terminal velocity are not "harmless".
@@matthiwi6901What stays behind is often called a shell casing. Shell is the generic term. Like the word bullet. Could mean the bullet itself or the entire cartridge.
@@barryervin8536 well, they are, because theyre tiny. Especially harmless to people wearing helmets.
Just like throwing a coin from a skyscraper is harmless.
The shrapnel may be fast up there at 10.000 feet but when it comes down it has reached an equilibrium with the air friction and is thus quite slow.
I teach US history at a community college. Your videos have added much detail to many lectures. Students love learning about things never presented before. Thanks so much.
✲ﾟƬʜᵃℕҡ ყօϋ for teaching our history.
1Lt Whittle, I am also a female soldier. You died as i joined The Army. God bless you. I would have loved to sit down and had a conversation with you. Thankyou for your honor and service to our country. The stories you must have had. Thsnks again.
Bless you. If I'd had to rely on school history textbooks I'd have been as bored as so many I've encountered. Dr. Felton brings it to life. Fortunately my grandfather gave me years of history as it affect ed him. His detailed stories about WWI helped me understand much better the actions in the modern Yugoslav Wars.
@@101soldiergurl44thank You…….
As an ex-Air Force Flight Nurse 1970-71, I had the honor of caring for our VietNam wounded on their last leg home (Elmendorf AFB, Alaska to Dover AFB). Thank you for this stimulating, historical story of my predicesor s of WW2. 2nd Lt. Whittle deserved more than a purple heart, as did the other FN Officers. Glad to hear the Germans treated her decently. My idols all.
thank you for your service
Thank you for your service!
Thank you for your service and care for these brave veterans. They were treated so horribly on the home front
Thank you for your service 💚🇺🇸
>Spot wounded nurse
>Render First Aid before taking her into custody
>Make special accommodations for her
Sounds very different from the Wehrmacht my history textbooks described...
Thank you. My best friends mother served as a nurse in WWII, but in the East and the war with Japan. Her family has really lovely photographs of her playing baseball with all the men on a remote island. A lot of men did send up with a crush on her, but she only told one "You need to meet my sister!" Sure enough he married her sister! Later on she married a fellow nurse, a male, and my friend is proud that both her parents are WWII veterans. In harms way indeed, and the island hoping battles were as tough on nurses as on anyone else!
That's a great WWII story, Kitty! Thanks for sharing it. TreeTop
Pitty we have to specify she married a male nurse.
This is why I watch your videos. True, unbiased WW2 history. You don't sugarcoat anything or blow things out of proportion. You simply tell it the way it actually happened.
.... As far as we know. Can't forget those grains of salt (another thing I like about Mark)!
Yes, but also the accent 😁
Nice profile pic.
This brings back memories. A dear family friend and co-worker of my mom was a battlefield nurse which followed Patton's 3rd Army in the European theater. In 1944 (1945?) her picture was actually on the cover of Life Magazine under the title "Shock Nurse". Some 35 years later, my mom was able to find/purchase a copy of that issue, had each page protected in plastic and gave it to her as a keepsake. She was quite a lady who always made us feel welcome when we would go to her place to play cards, board-games or just to talk. My mom and my younger brother were with her when she passed away.
Prior to mid-Dec 1944, Patton's 3rd was stationed in and around Strasbourg, France. On 12/16/44 the "bulge" commenced in eastern Belgium. A large portion of Patton's 3rd was called up north shortly thereafter. You should with just a name of your mother's co-worker a history.
@@johnbrattan9341 Mary Ferrell was her name..she was originally from Shiloh, Ohio
❤🤍💙
@@alantasman8273 thanks for sugaring, I plan on googling her name
My Aunt was all over Europe, too !! I bet they knew each other !!!
Thank you for this one. My mother was an army nurse in WWII. Those women were just so brave.
✲ﾟƬʜᵃℕҡ ყօϋ for Mom's military nursing service
Germans after the war: "How did we lose the war?"
Allies: "Where are all of the female soldiers?"
Germans after the war: "The who?..." =P
Women at times can have more balls than men
And your mom is proof of that
I don’t know how you continue to find these fascinating, usually unheard of, WW2 Stories but please don’t stop. You’re a treasure here on TH-cam. Thanks Mark!
Thanks for this story, Mark! We just said farewell to my uncle on September 4 who flew a B-24 Liberator for the top-secret 801st/492nd Bombardment Group, “ Carpetbaggers”, so this story was very close to home! He was 97 years old when he passed away on August 3. Thank you for your superb historical research!
My condolences for your loss.
@@MarkFeltonProductions Thank you!
Gosh, never knew about the 13 nurses who crash-landed. That would be a great story or movie, the "Lucky 13".
I was thinking the same thing. It would make an excellent movie.
@SnoopyDoo 13 is a "bakers dozen", Snoops.😉
"Courageous 13."
Because two months of playing hide-and-seek with determined foes through the Balkans is not for the faint of heart. Ask Captain O'Grady; it was tough, and he only had to evade for a week.
a light bulb appears above Mark Felton after reading k king’s comment. 😉💡
You wouldn't like this movie after it went trough all the changes they would do give it more drama and suspense:
- 13 Nurses ? That's to much, the audience could hardly tell them apart - 5 are enough
- They where all from the US? Having some other nationalities will broaden the audience
- We need some more romance one of them could fall in love with the pilot.
- More drama two nurses a black haired and a blond will fall in love with the pilot
- There will be some fire fights with at least 50 SS soldiers following them.
- The black haired nurse was a spy, worked together with the Nazis but scarifies their live to save them in the end.
I am a nurse and stand on the shoulders of all nightingales that came before me. 👏👏👏. When Bataan and Corregidor fell, 11 navy nurses, 66 army nurses, and 1 nurse-anesthetist were captured and imprisoned in and around Manila. They continued to serve as a nursing unit while prisoners of war. After years of hardship and abuse by the Japanese, they were finally liberated in February 1945.
@David Erickson wrong, I was a nurse and took care of Mary Obrest, we talked a lot about it. I thought the same but the females were treated well, I asked about the march and she said the nurses rode in trucks.
R u hot
They did better than some of the Australian Nurses that were captured. The Japanese machine gunned a heap of them in Ambon.
In the U.K. they seem to writing Florence Nightingale out of history, and replacing her with Mary Seacole.
Is this happening in any other Country?
Thanks for your work,much respect to all the nurses in the world
I worked with Navy Nurses and I was in awe of them, amazing people. I owe my life to a Navy Nurse and a Corpsman.
I was drafted in 1965, and was trained at Fort Sam Huston,Texas FOR SIX MONTHS. Great CITY FOR FUN, and lots of Vietnam Widows, unfortunately. Still remember the bar, "The Town Pump" Very old bar, with a great band, and lots of Mexican girls...
G'day from Australia,
The name Vivian Bullwinkel will never be forgotten.
So grateful there are awesome war historians on You tube like you.
Yes, good on you for mentioning her. ! Remarkable woman.
@@joemurphy9549 thank you too for remembering her name. She was indeed a remarkable woman who exemplified courage and humanity at its finest, as did thousands in every war.
My mum nursed under Matron Bulwinkle when she just finished her training in the 60s. She used to have a signed copy of White Coolies at home. Respect
Being a student nurse, who wishes to take up flight nursing as well, this rings home alot, a great video as always
By all means go for it! Best wishes to you, good luck and God bless!
Best of luck!
FLY HIGH my nursing sister!!
Thank you all ❤️
@@janiceduke1205 I'm very sorry, but I'm actually a guy, so sorry 😂
As an American I want to thank you Mark for informing me about this invaluable history. This story, the Cape San Juan, and countless others would've been lost to me without your diligent research. Never for a second believe that it's not appreciated.
I had 6 aunts who were all in nursing and that tradition continues with many of my cousins, but I've long been astounded by the level of dedication most nurses will display. Once again, hearing about the things I've never heard about. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for covering this story.
These brave women deserve our respect and honor. They were part of the greatest generation and were indispensable to the war effort.
Bless them all.
My mother was a US Army Air Corp nurse in WW2. She served at Westover and Mitchell Fields. At Michell, late in the war, She served with some recently repatriated Army nurses who had been captured at Bataan early in the war.
thank you for Mom's service
Upmost respect, There were many nurses in Britain during the lead up to D Day
My great aunt was a civilian captured by the Japanese in China. She was a visiting professor of nutrition at a university there, so while in the internment camps (they were moved around periodically), she had the job of keeping inmates fed with very little. She was eventually released prior to the end of the war in a deal facilitated (if memory serves) by the Swedish government.
Glad she survived. The Japanese were notoriously harsh with women prisoners, regardless of race.
@@DTavona yep
@@DTavona She probably would not have made it out alive if she had been imprisoned by the Soviets. There is a lot of evidence missing to suggest the Japanese were "harsh with women prisoners", especially since there were so few of them to begin with. It is true that the Japanese were harsh with American POWs because their cities, families, communities, etc were constantly being bombed by us, it did not really surprise me when I heard how our comrades were treated. Thats war. It's not as if we treated Japanese POWs any better, plenty instances of us killing unarmed Japanese and German POWs.
Your aunt was certainly necessary as we were constantly sinking any supplies (including food for prisoners) across the empire. Even the Japanese soldiers themselves were underfed in occupied territories.
@@DTavona At least according to some of the women themselves. Other women tell a different story, of essentially making the trade of becoming "concubines"/prostitutes in exchange for more food, tea, soap and other things.
Not so much different from American GIs taking advantage of young German (and other) women and making them sleep with them so they could bring their kid a bit of shitty American chocolate, or have a bar of soap to wash with + a bit more to eat.
Except that our women were more honest about it.
Never ceases to amaze me how vapid Hollywood movies are considering the trove of stories available. Thank you Professor Felton for shining a light on such heroism.
But then again, remember that Hollywood is/has been a Marxist stronghold in the U.S.
That is because Hollywood is too busy trying to change history.
Have u ever watches saving private ryan?
@@chineseviruszombie773 Hollywood could certainly make a lot more movies like that.
@@shawnseymour4061 I think you're confusing entertainment film with documentary.
One significant lady killed in her nursing duties would be Renee Lemaire, killed at Bastogne Christmas Eve 1944, Augusta Chiwy who survived to 2015 from the same incident
She's in BoB
@@Masterfighterx I know but I don't think Augusta Chiwy is
The Angel of Bastogne.
@@johnryder1713 Yes she is.
@@catherinelw9365 Brave as any of the Screaming Eagles, and should always be remembered for just been a volunteer, after loosing her poor Jewish Fiancee several years before and wanted to do her best
Thank you Dr. Felton for honoring these brave women by keeping history alive.
I personally want to thank this lady for her service for her bravery for her sacrifice she is truly one of a kind and should be recognized as one of the best in her time. People need to realize that women were just as important in the battles as anyone else this lady deserves to be remembered forever....
There are few TH-cam channels on history that provide me with content that I was previously unaware of at least some aspect of. Mark does this on a regular basis and this great story is just one example of it. I can't say enough how much I appreciate that.
Thank you for recognizing the contributions of women in WWII. My mother worked at the military base that my Stepfather was stationed at during WWII - she and many thousands of other women contributed to the Allied War Effort in whatever way that they could and need to be recognized for their contributions. I am very proud of my Mother!
Another outstanding story. This channel is absolutely wonderful. Phenomenal research and thoroughness. This channel and “The History Guy” channel are my go-to sources for history on TH-cam. Well done Mark.
History Guy did a terrible Mary Seacole video. A woman who people want desperately to be categorized as a nurse yet there being a lack of evidence of her actually giving people real medical care. Admirable as it is to give people water when they are wounded it still isn't qualifying as nursing especially when you run a business whose patronage is mainly British Officers.
Hello Mike. I know what you mean regarding Mark and THG. But the channels are strangely different too. Not a bad thing though. I always watch both. Regards.
Thank you Reba - for your service, your sacrifices and your courage under fire - and for the kindness and comfort that you brought to all under your care.
This is a fantastic episode. Thank you for bring this story of a true American hero to a large audience. This episode should be mandatory viewing in American high school history classes.
Thank you Mark for keeping the memory of this valiant woman alive.
"A female prisoner? Our bureaucratic system doesnt account for that so please just take her back." It was pretty much what i've expected reading the title - then again im used to german bureaucracy. :)
What do you think the Allies would have done if they had captured a single female enemy soldier?
Right. She'll need her own sleeping quarters. Check.
Her own bathing room. Check.
Her own recreation area - she would be free to mix with the other POWs under strict supervision (no hanky panky, eh) but of course boys play rough so she would need a seperate room. Filled with books, newspapers and perhaps she would do some embroidery...
She would need her own menu/diet. Can't have her eat the same swill we feed to regular POWs.
What if she became ill!
Speaking of that, ahem. A gynecologist.
And of course the ladies of the local tea club in the village nearby would love to meet her and exchange wartales and recipees.
Next...
*Bloody Hell* we can't do that! We haven't got the resources.
There's a war going on you know...
Just put her on the next plane to Lissabon with some travel money, a new set of clothes, a new passport, and...
@@AudieHolland They did capture female soldiers, rape happened.
@@scutumfidelis1436 I bet quite a few male POWs were raped.
You don't have to be a woman to be raped.
Just like that black man that was raped by New York cops inside a police station in 1997, only they used a broomstick.
The main NYC cop got 30 years in prison.
In 2008, a similar incident occurred in a subway in New York. Three NYC cops face 25, 4 and 4 years in prison.
They were all acquitted.
Well many got raped and cremated elsewhere tho
Well wrong. German bureaucracy had a lot of experience with female POWs. Mostly Soviet. They were often threated even worse then male counterparts. Not only beaten, worked and starved to death, they were often raped or used for medical experiments. In this instance, it was more case of fear and will to survive that motivated German bureaucracy. War was undoubtedly coming to an end, and suddenly good graces of Americans were the best chance for survival and not paying for the war crimes. Therefore gestures like this were highly calculated.
What a brave woman and it’s cool that her rarity made it easier for her to get home!
Holy cow! That’s quite the handle you have.
@@donnebes9421 Thanks!
An American woman that deserves more recognition. Thanks Mark . You are an amazing historian
Love your channel. Unbiased history is the best history.
Then why isn't he talking about RHEINWIESENLAGER!?
@@meatpolice2784 He made a video on those too
Mark does damned fine work.
Mark's channel is truly an unbiased channel as it isn't influenced by modern day ideologies I can't tell how much I appreciate this guy
@@ryanh4499 Can I pester you for a link or video title please? there's a lot to sort through in Marks channel.
Back in 1981 I was a rural Mississippi Pastor in Leakesville. I visited the home of one of the elderly women of the Church and she told me her WWII experiences. She was an RN at Bastogne when the Germans attempted to overrun the city. When informed of the possibility of being captured by the German forces General McAuliffe spoke to this RN and said, "Don't let them take you alive." He then handed her his sidearm. She still had it. She showed it to me. I remember her saying with great determination in her voice, "They weren't going to take me alive!"
It was witnessing the horrors of WW2 first-hand that turned my mother from a devout Christian to a life-long militant atheist, taking every opportunity to rail against religion and joining the British Secular Society. She subsequently raised her children to be militant atheists too.
@@AtheistOrphan
God help you!
@@AtheistOrphan War is a strange thing. Beliefs are shattered and unbelief as well. I frequently encountered war veterans who came to believe as well as to unbelief via combat trauma as a Veterans Hospital Chaplain. (22 years) Trauma challenges our faith presuppositions.
I have read of the Japanese internee US nurses in a book called Band of Sisters I believe it was called. A phenomenal story of courage perseverance and dedication to duty. Just an awesome story. Odd Reba's story has never been a book . An Incredible larger than life adventure. (Hint Hint Dr. Felton)
I too read that book if it is the same book it is called We Band of Angels. There is another wonderful book called If I Perish it is about nurses serving in Europe both books are first rate
@@nelliethursday1812 We've got a copy of "We Band of Angels," superb book! It's got a place of honor in our home!
We Band of Angels is a great book. The author acknowledges a historical goof she made though, concerning the initial Japanese air strikes.
I’m a retired RN. I highly recommend Band of Sisters…I read it several years ago. It definitely would make an excellent episode.
@@nelliethursday1812 yes 👍 ty. Thats it. Such a powerful story.
My mother was close to being a POW in Italy in 1944. She was a sergeant working as a shorthand typist for General Freyberg of the New Zealand Army corps in Italy.
She told me of an episode on a rare day off when she was invited by a NZ tank crew (no doubt anxious for some female company!) to try driving a tank, highly unofficial of course and away from Camp headquarters. Unfortunately they unexpectedly ran into a small German reconnaissance patrol behind the NZ lines. Neither side wanted to fight so both the Germans and the Kiwis turned tail and fled the scene. It was never reported as I guess the tank crew would have been in big trouble for unauthorised antics!
Mark Felton's excellent story about Reba Whittle makes me wonder what would have happened to my mother if she had been captured.
You are the first person I've ever experienced giving credit where credit is due to women soldiers. Thank you for this acknowledgement. (I entered the Navy at Alameda and my husband was attached to MAG 24 at Alameda.) Thanks again for sharing.
You should look up the Night Witches bomber regiment in WW2.
Thank you. As a Nurse, myself, I am always interested in their war contributions.
✲ﾟƬʜᵃℕҡ ყօϋ
The woman pictured on the title was my stepmother, Jeri Lofland. She wasn't a nurse, nor in the army, but was a model who posed for a nursing recruitment poster.
wow really? thats an awsome woman right there your lucky to have had her as your stepmother bro
Wow that's amazing
It's a small world after all
What are the odds
Honestly, I had forgotten about the image. I assumed it was a painting.
You know, like 'Uncle Sam wants You' or 'Lord Kitchener wants You'
Dude! Cool!
Mark, could you do a story on Vivian Bullwinkle? The only nurse, to survive the massacre at Bangka. It would be a great tribute.
I just read the story of that massacre. What an incredible woman. But what an incredible shame that no one was ever held
responsible or even shot for the crimes committed there.
When and in which did that happen, please?
She survived and married a moose who later teemed up with a flying squirrel named Rocky the moose due to some technical glitches in the paperwork took her last name of Bullwinkle.
@@Briselance The Bangka Island Massacre was February 16th 1942 during World War II and it happened on Radji beach which
is near Indonesia. 22 nurses,60 Australian and British soldiers were massacred. Vivian Bullwinkel an American and a Royal Navy sailor
were the only survivors.. A British soldier Patrick Kingsley had survived and encountered by Bullwinkel several days after the massacre
but by the time she surrendered Private Kingsley did not survive by the time they arrived at the P.O.W. Camp.
As a Registered Nurse myself I can tell you I’d be proud to have done that job. When I served in the USMC we didn’t have a medical career path unfortunately. Oh and those vintage nurses were cute too. They don’t make them like they used to. 😆 great video.
As a historian, I am quite impressed with the content I find on your channel. This topic was especially interesting, considering I had never heard of Lt. Whittle prior to your presentation. Please keep providing this outstanding content - I'm still not yet too old to learn! Thanks!
Great story Mark. My father was the Battalion aid surgeon who landed 2nd wave at Omaha Beach, and won a Silver star. He later was one of the surgeons who was asked to treat General Patton after his automobile accident.
*earned a Silver Star.
FYI. Those of us who serve don’t compete for medals and ribbons.
@@HollywoodMarine0351 Sorry, I ment to say awarded .
Can there be a video on him?
@@badxradxandy No, unfortunately not.
My god! Second wave. What that man must have seen. …..
Such an interesting story! The attitude of the Germans wanting to repatriate her, and the Americans failing to recognize her POW veteran status until 2 years after her death, both give me a chuckle. Large military bureaucracies just don’t know how to deal with atypical administrative situations. I retired from the USN in 2006, and I can attest that military bureaucracies are even worse today: Completely inflexible and rigid adherence to the “narrative”; common sense be damned! Thanks again, Mr Felton!
I want to add that there was indeed a significant number of female allied prisoners in german POW-camps. For example after fall of 1944 there was quite a number of Polish women (officers and lower ranks) from the Polish Home Army who were captured after the defeat at Warsaw.
Some of the Polish women ended in concentration camps, some may be transfered to the status as civilian deportees if they agreed to be so (which ment more liberties than a POW and a small amout of money for the work they were forced to do), but many stayed in POW-camps and had to work in german factories until liberation.
I was only discussing the Western Front.
@@MarkFeltonProductions But then, the Germans obviously knew what to do with women prisoners. She may have been unique on the Western front, but if someone had sent a message east, "We've got a woman here, what do we do?" they might have gotten an answer. Maybe the fact that she was a nurse and an officer made a difference?
The fact that she was American made the difference...
@@rabbi120348 From what I understand from Marc Bartuschka the captured polish women were considered civilian prisoners or relegated to concentration camps. Specifically, they appear not to have been treated as prisoners of war. The soviets fielded many women soldiers in front line positions yet I have never read any specifics regarding special treatment or procedures. In any case, the Germans never treated them according to the rules proscribed by the Geneva convention like they did with the western allies.
@@rabbi120348 Most German troops knew by that time that the war was lost and the best they could hope for was becoming a prisoner themselves of the Western allies, with an eye to the future they would've been well advised to treat all allied prisoners well.
Thank you for sharing this amazing story of military nurses! I’m glad they finally recognized her as a military POW! She deserved all the recognition and more! In spite of being captured by the Germans I’m glad they treated her decently. What an amazing career! I wonder how many times she asked herself “what have I gotten myself into?”
Thank you for sharing this, Mark! Yet another important person Ans piece of WWII history that should never be forgotten.
Despite having routinely risked their lives, several nurses in the Bataan death march received little recognition.
No female has ever been given the Medal of Honor.
A female surgeon was awarded the Medal of Honor during the civil war; however, this was later rescinded.
I'm a formed military critical care flight nurse and heard the stories from those that were there during WWII.
I think this is often because there isn't enough witnesses to corroborate the purported event or also them simply not being at the front and doing something truly exceptional. Unless you send me some good sources then I could be wrong.
Why was it rescinded?
@@billythedogbob1992 Because Susan B. Anthony was a suffragist.
You are wrong in one regard. Mary Edwards Walker was awarded a Medal of Honor in 1865. It was rescinded in 1917 (because it was a non-combat award) but returned in 1977.
Your information about Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is outdated. The revocation of her Medal of Honor was reversed by President Carter in 1977. That does not change the reality that the "non-combatant" status of women kept some of them from receiving the honors that their deeds deserved.
Remarkable story of women displaying incredible courage while under some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. We should all be thankful for their service and sacrifice. That said, with such stories rich with detail and drama, Hollywood should be knocking on your door. And if not, why not. Thanks Again, Dr. Felton. Your work consistently honors your subjects with honor and pride.
An inspiring story. As a general practitioner, I have always enjoyed working with nurses who have a great scope of practice, and I can relate to as a colleague. It is sad Reba wasn't given the recognition she deserved during her lifetime.
My father was on Omaha Beach and he was injured in Nancy, France about two months later by mortar shrapnel in the back and leg. My dad said that he was transported back to America in a C-47, which is the aircraft pictured in this video. He was in the lower bunk and there was a captured German in the upper one. Dad complained to the Flight Nurse that he had a bad backache, so the nurse turned him over. Upon turning him, she discovered that he had a piece of shrapnel in his back....
Mark Felton gives you more historical info in 14 minutes then any history channel program gives you in 60-minutes great stuff
Will watch the video shortly, yet just wanted to point out that Mr. Felton is one of the few to acknowledge and highlight the actions of the women during war times. I'd personally like to see more content on women's roles during war time; not just military. E.g. The typists must of had a horrendous time writing such tragic news to families.
I've actually done a little research on those ladies, some of them actually COULDN'T be acknowledged for their service for decades because it was so secretive (they couldn't tell even their families for like 30-40 years). One group of Navy WAVES was actually breaking codes to help hunt down Nazi U-Boats. The Marines had them working as aircraft inspectors and mechanics, and the WASPs did transfer flights of planes from factories. The WACs were probably the most famous and handled virtually everything from airfield control towers to the paperwork. Their performance was so successful (and so popular) that other than the WASPs all of these forces were made permanent after the war. What's shocking is that they often received more recognition for their work in the 40s and 50s than they have in the 21st Century. Many GIs back then absolutely loved them.
@@thunderbird1921 Ah nice, thanks for sharing; the definition of 'unsung heroes'.
My grandmother worked for Supermarine during WW2. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get first hand accounts of her experiences due to her failing cognitive capabilities, yet my mother told me about the stories she was told.
It's incredible to think that such a vast amount of history is overlooked - not just from allied forces, but from the women around the world at that time.
Working from the age of 15/16, going home to help look after the house, help tend to the land for crops, support the community...all whilst being bombed.
@@thewaywardgrape3838 You're welcome! As I said, the more I read about these ladies (and just how much the servicemen respected and loved them), I am SHOCKED they've been so forgotten in recent decades. They went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam as well (before the M/F military units were merged). By the 1950s, the WACs were so popular that they even got a salute in the popular "Francis the Army Mule" comedy film series. How they managed to go from being the sweethearts of America to totally forgotten in the last 25 years is beyond me. Thanks for sharing your grandmother's story by the way, very interesting!
@@thunderbird1921 Awesome - the information, not the flagrant disregard for the women's efforts - I'll do some researching. 👍
I think there are more than a few that acknowledge women's role in WW2. Since they were not in front line combat, of course there is less interest. It's only natural. In the USSR, women were in combat areas and more celebrated
This is a story I never heard of..great job Mark!
Because you never looked into it :)
Having read The Real Tenko two weeks ago, a women being a German POW seems rather nice compared to the Japanese especially after what happened to the nurses at Hong Kong.
I would also recommend "Three Came Home" by Agnes Newton Keith. Gripping story (In 1950 also made into a good film starring Claudette Colbert if you ever get to catch it.)
What happened to nurses in Hong Kong
@@joseph4301 I guess it start with r and ends with e with an a and a p in the middle...
@@EngelinZivilBO got it
@@joseph4301 ;)
Nice job mm8, thanks.
My Grandmother was a Canary girl, she was in the factories making the bombs and ammunition.
My Grandfather was a Bevin Boy in the coal mines, as he had a medical condition that didn't allow him to sign up to the RAF.
The best thing about this channel is it’s about history without bias. Just pure history as it was. Not altered to fit an agenda. Thank you Mark.
These stories get better and better, can't get enough of them.
I'm from a family with many members...living and deceased who either were in our military and in combat, or or.... in our military today. And I have heard WWII stories, Korean War Stories and Vietnam War Stories...Iraq stories from friends...but never was I aware of these women....nurses who volunteered for the special training told in this video and went on such demanding dangerous and frightening missions. Thank you sir for posting this.
Once again, THANK YOU Mr. Felton for your objective, professional dedication to telling history as it was. When I recommend your channel to friends and family, I do it with ease of mind because of your hard work.🇺🇸🇬🇧
What a fantastic subject! So interesting to learn about Lieutenant Whittle and the incredible heroism and dedication of these women. Excellent work as always!
A wonderful humbling story that I never knew about.. thanks Dr Felton
One of the most famous WASP pilots was someone very little people know about. Her name was Cornelia Clark Fort. She was the second founding member of the WASPs and was the first active duty female pilot killed after a midair collision with another plane. She was almost killed in another near midair collision on December 7, 1941 when she almost collided head on with a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Her plane was strafed by the Zero after she landed. She was the first American pilot to encounter the Japanese attack force. Her encounter was betrayed in the movie 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'.
Thanks!
Another fascinating video from my favourite history teacher.
We tended to overlook the immense amount of effort and bravery of the women who willingly put themselves in the line of fire to save lives. It is through such presentations as this that we can appreciate their sacrifice.
That's interesting to know a German soldier's first decision coming upon the crash site of an enemy plane is to aid the wounded.
Airmen were always treated better.
His unit was likely Weirmacht regulars. If it had been an SS unit ... oh boy.
really makes you happy to see that not everyone's a psychopathic murderer during those times
Germans were the most compassionate easily.
Many stories of German civilians and military murdering Allied servicemen in cold blood. Even in the last days of the war. It all depended! Barbarism and totalitarianism go together!
The depth of knowledge and profound significance of these stories, simply shows the extent of responsibility Dr Felton shows towards relying much of history we take for granted. Thank you very much..
Army nurses & other personnel saved my life in 2010 while I was stationed stateside. I'll always be grateful.
Dr Felton. My mother was a WWII Army nurse. I did not come along until 1948 and I wish she were alive today to watch this INCREDIBLE documentary. My Navy Chief Petty Officer hat off to you, sir!
✲ﾟƬʜᵃℕҡ ყօϋ for Mom's military nurse service & yours too!!
Very interesting video - history is forgotten, but these stories bring it back into the light and we should all remember that it was a different time and Reba was not afraid to step to the front of the line ahead of male medical personnel - good on her to set the example. Thanks for sharing this story and not sure why there is 65 thumbs down at time of watching - probably from people who have never worn combat boots. Cheers
I love how this bloke just gets on with it. Tremendous channel, and I always learn something new.
Every Mark Felton story is interesting but some are on another level entirely. This is one of them!
Absolutely fascinating!
I may be 56 but I love learning new things and this channel is one the best for that.
¡Gracias!
Interesting story, a shame so many service veterans have to struggle to get recognition and help for the suffering they have and still endure.
God bless each and everyone of them and their families.
While serving in Viet Nam, I had the honor of seeing our nurses in action. They did a superb job in treating our wounded. Every time I thought of them, I wondered what would happen to them if they were captured. Thank God I never needed their help as I was a grunt. Thank again, ladies. P.S., the DONUT GIRLS also were great.
All I can say is, those are some strong women that survived and endured through those tough times. Thanks for your services…
Danke!
fascinating story Mark, thanks.
Would you consider doing a report on Soviet women in German captivity given that they served as pilots and in other frontline roles.
Unfortunately soviet woman were either shot on sight or sent to auzshwitz
Women in explicit combat roles were not received well by German forces. The distinction between female military nurses and support personnel vs female soldiers and combat pilots was significant it seems. It seems appropriate to suggest that ethnicity played a role too.
That’s probably the greatest collection of women soldiers during WW2 on film every collected in one place. Great job Mark!👍🏼
My grandmother was a driver in the Canadian forces motor pool in England. That's how she met my Grandfather who was a Defiant and Halifax gunner. I love to hear as many stories as possible about women serving in the armed forces. So little about them gets talked about so its fascinating stuff.
This story for instance was great and I look forward to the video you mentioned.👍
There's an absolutely amazing testimony here on TH-cam of a U.S. Army World War II WAC who actually served as a driver while her husband was fighting in Italy (they married just before he shipped out). She talked about her incredible journey to find her husband in 1945 because he was going to be transferred to fight Japan (miraculously the war ended before he had to take part in the planned invasion). Unknown to her at the time, he had narrowly avoided death in the Italian Campaign when a German artillery shell slammed directly into his assigned foxhole, killing all the men in it, while he was temporarily away (I believe it was patrol duty IIRC). Her testimony has nearly half a million views if my memory is correct.
Thank you Dr. Felton for your fine work. You are much appreciated.
I’ve been blessed to have cared for a woman who was in the British Army during WWII. My friend’s aunt was an army nurse during WWII and she was a bad ass. I’m a nurse myself, so thank you for this lovely video.
Thank you. Our young women would do better to study these brave soldiers and what they did rather than the train wrecks they look up to today. These are women to be honoured and revered. Respect.
Loved history in high school, listening to you tell the rarely told stories make me feel like I am actually in the college lecture hall. Awesome content!!!!!
My Grandmother was a Captain in the US Army as a Nurse. She was in Bastogne during the Bulge, and on a snowy night ended up in German lines and was taken as a POW for 2 days. She woke up to a US MP pointing a rifle in her face and that was that. She has since passed, and she never told me much about her time in except that story, and briefly about liberating a concentration camp.
thanks for Grandmother's service
My father was a flight engineer on a C47 in North Africa, Italian campaign and Europe he also received the Air Medal for Matrious Service in Air Combat. He never spoke about his service except bits and pieces here and there. I wish he was alive today I would sit and have him tell me everything.
Mark, I have watched dozens of your videos but this one immediately jumped into the Top 5. A story that needed to be told!